Stencil with barrier layer between the stencil and the adhesive



Sept. 6, 1966 D. BREVERMAN 3,

STENCIL WITH BARRIER LAYER BETWEEN THE STENCIL AND THE ADHESIVE FiledSept. 8, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGZ.

Sept. 6, 1966 D. BREVERMAN STENCIL WITH BARRIER LAYER BETWEEN THESTENCIL AND THE ADHESIVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1964 FIG .7.

United States Patent 3,270,666 STENCIL WITH BARRIER LAYER BETWEEN THESTENCIL AND THE ADHESIVE David Breverman, Los Angeles, Calif assignor toMark- Fast Marking System, Inc, Los Angelles, Calif, a corporation ofCalifornia Filed Sept. 8, 1964, Ser. No. 394,796 11 Claims. (Cl.101128.2)

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applicationSerial No. 268,942, filed March 29, 1963, entitled Stencil Device, nowabandoned.

This invention relates to stencil devices, more particularly stencilassemblies such as are used in conjunction with a hand stampingimplement for printing on packages, etc.

Hand stamping devices are in general well known, as for example in theshipping of packages from a manufacturing companys shipping departmentwherein there are a large number of packages being directed to a singlereceiver, it is customary to prepare and make a stencil which includesthe name and address of the consignee or the purchaser. Such a stencilis preferably of the type employed in duplicating processes and is usedto imprint on each of the packages comprising a single order or at leastall of the packages and parcels which are to be sent to the onecustomer.

Such stencils are of the type which can be prepared on a typewriter,such stencils being commonly known as mimeograph stencils. At the timethe stencil is prepared it is preferable that an invoice, bill ofladin-g, shipping order, or other record be put behind the stencil toreceive a record of to whom the order is sent. In the present state ofthe art stencils of the type which are used to perform this stencilpreparation and record keeping function are relatively thick andsomewhat cumbersome to use in a typewriter since they normally utilize a2 to 3 ply assembly in addition to the backing sheet. Some such stencilassemblies employ a separate carbon sheet while others utilize a stencilsheet with carbon formed on the rear surface thereof. When a carbon backstencil material is used it is typical that a separate strip ofpressure-sensitive adhesive tape be attached across the top front of thestencil material with a portion of the tape extending above the top edgeof the stencil sheet. To the exposed tape there is affixed a carbonsheet and backing sheet. When the backing sheet is removed the stencilsheet and carbon and the exposed tape can be adhered to the record whenthe stencil is being cut. This type of adhesive arrangement places theadhesive material substantially in contact with the carbon reproducingmaterial and allows a migration of the solvents and plasticizers fromthe adhesive into the carbon and vice versa. This has a tendency todiscolor the adhesive material such that when it is used to adhere thestencil to other paper work an adhesive residue which is dark in colorsometimes remains on the paper after the stencil is removed therefrom.Additionally the migration of the materials from the carbon backing tothe adhesive destroy the advantageous properties of the pressuresensitive adhesive material and cause it to be poor in releasing fromthe record paper to which it has been adhered.

Hand printers for use in conjunction with stencils of the type describedabove are common but most possess certain distinct disadvantages. Commontypes of such printers are the well known type which utilize a felt inkpad with gravity flow. Such printers must be rocked to allow the ink toflow through the stencil and it is diflicult to obtain an evenly printedimpression. One meaningful disadvantage of this type of printingassembly as well as other types utilizing pads of difierent material isthat ink will typically flow from the edges of the pad leaving a icedark frame around the printed area and causing an appearance which ismessy and not neat.

Among the seevral objects of the present invention may be noted theprovision of an improved stencil sheet assembly for use in preparinginvoices, etc. and for subsequent use with an inking device, the stencilsheet being sufiiciently thin and flexible for use in a typewriterduring preparation of the invoice; and the provision of an improvedstencil assembly having a carbon area on a stencil sheet and an adhesivefor securing the stencil sheet to an article (and for securing a backingsheet to the stencil sheet) wherein the oils in the carbon area and thestencil sheet are barred from migration to the adhesive. Generally, astencil assembly of this invention comprises a single sheet of stencilmaterial with a carbonized area formed on the back face thereof, whicharea is limited to the portion of the stencil material which is to beused in the imprinting operation. A stripe of pressure-sensitiveadhesive extends across the top edge of the stencil sheet along the rearsurface thereof but spaced from the carbonized area. To thispressure-sensitive material there is adhered a backing sheet for storageprotection of the carbonized area and the pressure-sensitive adhesive.Provision may be made, as will appear, for preventing migration of oilsin the stencil sheet to the adhesive. Other objects and features will bein part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafterdescribed, the scope of the invention being indicated in the followingclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which several of various possibleembodiments of the invention are illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a hand printing device in itspresently preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation of the printing device, partly in sectionon line 22 of FIG. 1, the printing device having a cover and stencil onit;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective exploded View of the components makingup the printing head of the hand printing device as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a stencil assembly made in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial view in perspective showing the components of thestencil assembly of FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 6-10 are fragmentary perspective sections of modified stencilassemblies of the invention, with thicknesses greatly exaggerated.

Although not limited thereto, the hand printing device shown herein isparticularly suited for use with the improved stencil assemblies whichforms a part of the present invention and accordingly will be describedin combination therewith. As described hereinabove, one of the primaryproblems in connection with hand stenciling devices presently known tothe art is the tendency for the ink carrying portion of the printingdevice to leak around the edges and past the stencil to the paper orother material upon which the impression is being made. Additionally,stencil assemblies of the type heretofore known to the art arecumbersome in use since they employ two or three sheets of material inaddition to the backing sheet which is typically removed upon use of thestencil. If the thickness of the stencil assembly does not occur due tothe thickness of the various plys it is often present by the thicknessof the material used to connect the plys of the stencil assembly. Thatis, it is common to employ a separate strip of adhesive material whichis placed on the upper edge of the stencil assembly. When this is donethe adhesive strip is relatively thick and stiff.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 apresently preferred embodiment of a hand printing device, designated inits entirety by the reference charcater A. FIGS. 4 and 5 show a stencilassembly made in accordance with this invention, and FIGS. 6l0 showvarious modifications thereof.

Referring now to FIGS. 13, the hand printing device includes a handle 10which also serves as the ink reservoir.

The handle is a hollow member formed of deformable material such aspolyethylene plastic. The handle has a flat end surface 11 and a neck 12which is male threaded for connection to the head assembly of theprinting device. The head assembly, generally designated 14, includes apad 15, a grid 16 and a body 17. The body 17 is formed of material whichis substantially rigid in the configuration shown, such as moldedplastic. The body and the head assembly are generally rectangular in theplanar configuration and are substantially rectangular incross-sectional configuration as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The body 17 isof substantial thickness and has in its rear wall 18 a threaded opening19 for attaching body 17 to neck 12 of the handle 10. Extendingdownwardly from the top surface 20 of the body 17 are a plurality ofchannels 21 in the body which are relatively narrow-elongate grooves.Channels 21 communicate with the opening 19 from the rear surface of thebody. Ink can thus flow from the reservoir within the handle 10 throughthe neck 12 into the channels 21 which are spaced apart along the uppersurface of the head. Mounted upon the upper surface 20 of the head isthe grid 16 which is porous and which serves to disperse the inksupplied to the channels over the complete surface of the grid and thusinto the complete area of the back surface 23 of the pad 15. The pad isof rectangular configuration and substantial uniform thickness, itsrectangular dimensions being similar to those of the body 17. Thecellular portion 25 of the pad is formed of an open cellular materialsuch as cellular elastomeric material, synthetic rubber, polyurethane,foamed vinyl or other flexible cellular materials, which materials areresistant to solvents present in the ink which will flow through thepad. Along the edge surfaces 26 of the pad and along the adjacent areasof the front and back surfaces of the pad, such as shown at 27, there isformed a barrier 30 of skin which is impervious to the passage of ink.The barrier 30 is formed by affixing to the edge surfaces and theadjacent upper and lower surf-aces of the pad at the peripheral portionthereof a flexible coating or sealant material by bonding or othersuit-able process. In the presently preferred embodiment, the edges andadjacent surfaces approximately to a width of one-eighth inch are dipsealed with a flexible sealant such as buna or neoprene cement. The padcan also be molded with an impervious skin which is removed except fromthe edges and adjacent areas.

This sealing barrier 30 assumes the configuration of the material uponwhich an impression is being made and acts as a seal to the passage offluid from any portion of the pad except the surface portion within themargin formed by the peripheral portion 27 of the sealing barrier 30. Alayer of cloth 28 or other suitable porous material through which theink may readily flow is then placed over the upper surface 31 of the pad15 and sealed to the edges of the pad and into the space between thelower surface 23 of the pad and the grid 16. The cloth covered pad 15 isthen sealed to the upper surface of the body 17 by a suitable adhesivesuch as rubber or epoxy. The pad can be utilized without the clothcovering although such as used in the presently preferred embodiment.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the stencil assembly B made inaccordance with the present invention is shown to comprise a sheet 41 ofrelatively thin single-ply stencil material of suitable type known asmimeograph stencil tissue well known to the art, which when struck witha typewriter key forms a passage through the stencil material conformingto the configuration of the impression made by the typewriter key. Onone face 43 of the stencil sheet 41 constituting its back face, there isprovided an area 45 of carbonized material which is rectangular inconfiguration but of smaller dimension than the sheet 41 so that amargin of the stencil sheet free of carbon is provided all around thecarbonized area 45. The carbonizing material used may be, for example,any one of various well-known commercially available carbonizing inks.

A stripe of pressure-sensitive adhesive 47 extends across the back face43 of the stencil sheet adjacent one of the long edges thereof. Thisstripe is relatively narrow and, since carbonized area 45 is offset fromsaid edge, this stripe is located within the confines of theuncarbonized area of the back face. Thus, the pressure-sensitiveadhesive material is spaced from the carbonized area. thin coating ofthe pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied, and the stripe of adhesivemay be approximately onesixteenth inch in width whereas the marginbetween the carbonized material and the upper edge of the stencil sheetis approximately three-eighths of an inch, for example. Thepressure-sensitive adhesive used may be, for example, a water solublelatex type material which is not affected by ink solvents orplasticizers utilized in the stencil carbons. One such adhesive found tobe particularly suitable is a mixture of natural latex rubber andneoprene latex, which mixture resists impregnation by the oils in thestencil paper. A suitable backing sheet 49 of protective paper materialis adhered to the rear surface of the stencil sheet 41 by means of theadhesive 47. The adhesive coating is sufficiently thin and is aflixedwithout the addition of a separate ply of paper material in order thatthe stencil assembly is thin throughout its area and is substantiallyequal to a two-ply thickness including the backing sheet over its entirearea. The backing sheet is merely a protective release paper which isretained in association with the stencil sheet until the latter isneeded for use. The stencil sheet 41 is then removed from the backingsheet, adhesive 47 remaining on the back of the stencil sheet 41, and bymeans of the adhesive is aflixed to a record sheet such as an invoice orbill of lading such that the name and address or the like cut into thestencil is reproduced on the record sheet.

The stencil sheet is then removed from the invoice and applied to theupper surface of the printing head of the hand printing device A asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3 for printing on packages, parcels, etc. Theadhesive may be used to adhere the stencil sheet to the border of thepad, and the sheet tends to cling to the face of the pad.

In operation, ink is placed in the reservoir provided by the handle 10of the assembly A. The stencil sheet 41 is afiixed to the upper surfaceof the printing pad. The handle may be squeezed if necessary to injectink into the pad 15 and the device is ready for use. In use, it isnecessary merely to press it against the material to which theimpression is to be applied. No rocking action is necessary and perfectcontact with the surface being imprinted is not essential; thus makingthe device fast and easy to use.

Thus, the present invention provides an improved stencil sheet which isonly one-ply when in use, making it more easily usable and eflicient.The carbonizing on the stencil sheet is visible through the sheet (thetissue from which the stencil sheet is made providing for this) to showthe area in which the stencil should be cut. However, the carbonizedarea is spaced at a substantial distance from the adhesive coating toprevent any migration of materials between the adhesive material and thecarbonizing material. The hand-printing device provides an improvedconstruction and prevents the flow of ink to any undesired area.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the stencil sheet assembly of theinvention. The stencil sheet is again designated 41 and has afiixed in arectangular area on its back face a carbonizing material 45 which ispreferably spaced from the margins of sheet 47 as shown. In thisembodiment of the invention a separate barrier layer 51 is providedalong the upper margin of the back face 43 of sheet 41 spaced from theupper margin of the carbonizing material 45. The material of barrierlayer 51 is an oil resistant material such as neoprene, acryliccopolymers, vinyl, alginates, starch, methyl cellulose, synthetic rubbercompounds, polyethylene coatings, other oil resistant polymer or resinmaterials, etc. As shown in FIG. 6, the material is applied as a coatingon the stencil sheet along the upper margin of the back face. Thepressure-sensitive adhesive 47 is applied to the oil-resistant barriercoating 51, the adhesive being narrower than the coating 51 and out ofcontact with the stencil sheet 41 due to the presence of barrier layer51. This separation of sheet 41 and adhesive 47 prevents migration tothe adhesive of carbonizing material and the oils normally used inmanufacturing the stencil sheet 41 to give it its stencilizingproperties. In this regard, it will be understood that the stencil sheetis made, for example, by impregnating the stencil tissue with acomposition comprising castor oil, oleic acid and nitrocellulose. Suchstencil oils may destroy the desired tackiness of the adhesive anddiminish its ability to clearly pull away from the backing sheet, aninvoice or the like. Also, the barrier layer prevents carbonizingmaterial or oil from migrating from the stencil sheet 41 to the adhesiveand thence being transferred by the adhesive to the record sheet towhich it is attached and discoloring the record sheet. Thisdiscoloration should be avoided, particularly when the stencil sheet isused on a record sheet such as an invoice or the like which is to besent to a customer.

FIG. 7 discloses another manner of applying a barrier layer physicallyto separate the stencil sheet 41 and adhesive 47. In this embodiment, anoil-resistant material 53 of the type previously described for coating51 is adhered to both surfaces of stencil sheet 41 along its uppermargin and extends around the upper edge of sheet 41. The oil-resistantmaterial .at 53 may be applied by dipping the sheet 41 in theoil-resistant material. In other respects the FIG. 7 embodiment is thesame or similar to the stencil assembly of FIG. '6.

Another stencil assembly having an oil resistant barrier layer isillustrated in FIG. 8. In this embodiment the barrier is designated 55and comprises a strip of oil resistant paper or plastic material adheredto the upper rear edge of stencil sheet 41. The adhesive 47 is appliedto the back face of barrier strip 55 and comes away from backing sheet49 with the barrier strip.

FIG. 9 illustrates a still further embodiment of the stencil sheetassembly of this invention having a barrier layer for preventingmigration of oil from the stencil sheet 41 to adhesive 47. In FIG. 9 thebarrier is designated 57 and is a strip of oil-resistant paper orplastic adbored by suitable adhesives to the upper edge of both thefront and back faces of stencil 41, extending around the upper edge ofthe stencil sheet. Adhesive 47 is secured to the barrier strip 57 on theback face of stencil 41.

In FIG. 10 a stencil sheet assembly is shown wherein the stencil sheet41 has an area along its upper edge designated 59 which is substantiallyfree of the oil and other stencilizing materials normally applied tothis sheet during its manufacture. The area 59 is impregnated with anoil-resistant material such as neoprene, acrylic, vinyl, syntheticrubber combinations of these coatings, etc. which bars migration of oilfrom the stencil material or carbonizing layer on this sheet into theupper edge of the stencil sheet. Adhesive strip 47 is secured to theupper back face of stencil sheet 41 in the area 59 containing thebarrier material. The adhesive 47 should be spaced from the lower edgeof the barrier material.

It will be understood that the barrier layers shown in FIGS. 6-9 and thebarrier zone 59 shown in FIG. 10 are such as not substantially tointerfere with the flexibility of the stencil sheet.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not-in a limitingsense.

What I claim is:

1. A stencil sheet assembly comprising a single-ply sheet of stencilmaterial which contains an oil, said stencil sheet having a carbonizingmaterial on a first area of one face thereof constituting its back face,the sheet being adapted for striking on its front face within theconfines of the area on its back face to convert it into a stencil andsimultaneously make a carbon copy via said coating of carbonizingmaterial, said sheet having a barrier layer of material at a second areaof the back face and a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive on thebarrier layer spaced from the carbonizing material, and a backing sheetattached to the stencil sheet by said adhesive, the barrier layerpreventing migration of oil from the stencil sheet to the adhesive.

2. A stencil sheet assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stencilsheet is rectangular and the barrier layer and adhesive layer arelocated along an edge of the back face of the stencil sheet, the secondarea being free of the carbonizing material.

3. A stencil sheet assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the barrierlayer is a coating.

4. A stencil sheet assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the barrierlayer is a separate piece of material which is adhered to both the backand front faces of the sheet of stencil material at said edge of thesheet of stencil material.

5. A stencil sheet assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the stencilsheet has an area substantially coeX- tensive with the second area ofthe back face which is free :of the stencilizing material, the barriercomprising an oilresistant material impregnated in the area free of thestencilizing material.

6. A stencil sheet assembly comprising a relatively thin sheet ofstencil material having a coating of carbonizing material over a firstlocalized area of one face thereof constituting its back face, a secondlocalized area of the back face being free of the carbonizing material,said sheet being adapted for striking on its other face within theconfines of said first area to convert it into a stencil and to make acarbon copy via said coating of carbonizing material, said sheet furtherhaving a coating of pressuresensitive adhesive at its said back faceWithin the confines of said second area, the carbonizing coating beingspaced from the adhesive coating to prevent any migration of materialsbetween the carbonizing coating and the adhesive coating, and a backingsheet backing the back face of said sheet of stencil, the latter beingadhered to said backing sheet by said adhesive, the stencil sheettogether with the adhesive being adapted to be pulled away from thebacking sheet and then adhered by said adhesive to a record sheet forimprinting of the stencil sheet to stencilize it and simultaneously tomake a carbon copy on the record sheet, and then being removabletogether with the adhesive from the record sheet, said sheet of stencilmaterial being a thin sheet of stencil tissue paper impregnated with astencilizing composition which contains an oil, and said sheet ofstencil material having a barrier layer of a material resistant topenetration by said oil under the adhesive.

7. A stencil sheet assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said barrierlayer is a coating.

8. A stencil sheet assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said barrierlayer is a separate piece of web material adhered to said sheet ofstencil material.

9. A stencil sheet assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said webmaterial is an oil-resistant paper.

10. A stencil sheet assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said webmaterial is an oil-resistant plastic film.

11. A stencil sheet assembly comprising a relatively thin sheet ofstencil material having a coating of carbonizing material over a firstlocalized area of one face thereof constituting its back face, a secondlocalized area of the back face being free of the carbonizing material,said sheet being adapted for striking on its other face within theconfines of said first area to convert it into a stencil and to make acarbon copy via said coating of carbonizing material, said sheet furtherhaving a coating of pressure-sensitive adhesive at its said back facewithin the confines of said second area, the carbonizing coating beingspaced from the adhesive coating to prevent any migration of materialsbetween the carbonizing coating and the adhesive coating, and a backingsheet backing the back face of said sheet of stencil, the latter beingadhered to said backing sheet by said adhesive, the stencil sheettogether with the adhesive being adapted to be pulled away from thebacking sheet and then adhered by said adhesive to a record sheet forimprinting of the stencil sheet to stencilize it and simultaneously tomake a carbon copy on the record sheet, and then being removabletogether with the adhesive from the record sheet, said sheet of stencilmaterial being a thin sheet of stencil tissue paper impregnated with astencilizing composition which contains an oil, and impregnated in theregion where said adhesive is applied with an oil-resistant material.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 747,861 12/1903 Deckert 11736.4 1,929,601 10/1933Miner 282-28 1,971,629 7/1934 Topf 101128.2 1,975,488 10/1934 Trull etal 101-125 2,177,768 10/1939 Carscallen 101128.2 2,203,280 6/1940 Heathl01128.2 2,557,875 6/ 1951 Kerr. 2,581,153 1/1952 Wallich 101128.42,919,642 1/1960 Mooney 101125 2,970,931 2/ 1961 Gum binner 101-1282 X2,976,802 3/1961 Mason 101128.1 3,067,673 12/1962 Anderson 10l128.23,094,342 6/1963 Weber. 3,162,116 12/1964 Weber 101128.1

DAVID KLEIN, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM B. PENN, ROBERT E. PULFREY,

Examiners.

NATHANIEL HUMPHRIES, HARLEIGH P. EWELL,

Assistant Examiners.

1. A STENCIL SHEET ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A SINGLE-PLY SHEET OF STENCILMATERIAL WHICH CONTAINS AN OIL, SAID STENCIL SHEET HAVING A CARBONIZINGMATERIAL ON A FIRST AREA OF ONE FACE THEREOF CONSTITUTING ITS BACK FACE,THE SHEET BEING ADAPTED FOR STRIKING ON ITS FRONT FACE WITHIN THECONFINES OF THE AREA ON ITS BACK FACE TO CONVERT IT INTO A STENCIL ANDSIMULTANEOUSLY MAKE A CARBON COPY VIA SAID COATING OF CARBONIZINGMATERIAL, SAID SHEET HAVING A BARRIER LAYER OF MATERIAL AT A SECOND AREAOF THE BACK FACE AND A LAYER OF PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE ON THEBARRIER LAYER SPACED FROM THE CARBONIZING MATERIAL, AND A BACKING SHEETATTACHED TO THE STENCIL SHEET BY SAID ADHESIVE, THE BARRIER LAYERPREVENTING MIGRATION OF OIL FROM THE STENCIL SHEET TO THE ADHESIVE.